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Italian Journal of Pediatrics Jan 2022The role of allergic sensitization seems to be protective against SARS CoV2 infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate, using online surveys, the impact of...
Prevalence of COVID-19 in children affected by allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma: results from the second "SIAIP rhinosinusitis and conjunctivitis committee" survey.
BACKGROUND
The role of allergic sensitization seems to be protective against SARS CoV2 infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate, using online surveys, the impact of COVID-19 on Italian allergic children, comparing the prevalence of AR and asthma symptoms between the first and second pandemic wave.
METHODS
Both surveys were emailed to Italian pediatricians in April 2020 (first survey) and in March 2021 (second survey). The first one was related to the impact of COVID-19 and the most frequently reported symptoms. The second one was superimposed on the previous one, taking into account some additional aspects in the management of disease.
RESULTS
A total of 99 pediatricians participated in the first survey and 267 in the second one. The first survey showed that, asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis prevalence was mostly between 0 and 20% throughout the country. The second survey showed a lower prevalence of both diseases nationwide in comparison to the first one. Comparing the two surveys, statistically significant differences were reported only in the distribution of asthma prevalence in Southern Italy while no differences were highlighted in the North and in the Center. Finally regarding allergic rhinoconjunctivitis prevalence, no differences were noticed nationwide.
CONCLUSIONS
Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma, if under control, did not represent risk factors for the susceptibility to SARS CoV2. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to continue therapies during COVID-19 outbreak, according to the international guidelines. However, being COVID-19 a new disease, actual knowledge will undergo continuous improvements over time.
Topics: Asthma; COVID-19; Child; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Humans; Italy; Prevalence; Rhinitis, Allergic; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 34991654
DOI: 10.1186/s13052-021-01198-y -
Frontiers in Immunology 2021Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is the most prevalent form of mucosal allergy, and the conditioned medium (CM) from mesenchymal stem cells has been reported to attenuate...
Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is the most prevalent form of mucosal allergy, and the conditioned medium (CM) from mesenchymal stem cells has been reported to attenuate some allergic diseases. However, the therapeutic effects of CM from different tissue stem cells (TSC-CM) on allergic diseases have not been tested. Here, we studied the effects of topical administration of different human TSC-CM on experimental AC (EAC) mice. Only human amniotic epithelial cell-CM (AECM) significantly attenuated allergic eye symptoms and reduced the infiltration of immune cells and the levels of local inflammatory factors in the conjunctiva compared to EAC mice. In addition, AECM treatment decreased immunoglobulin E (IgE) release, histamine production, and the hyperpermeability of conjunctival vessels. Protein chip assays revealed that the levels of anti-inflammatory factors, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and IL-10, were higher in AECM compared to other TSC-CM. Furthermore, the anti-allergic effects of AECM on EAC mice were abrogated when neutralized with IL-1ra or IL-10 antibody, and the similar phenomenon was for the activation and function of B cells and mast cells. Together, the present study demonstrated that AECM alleviates EAC symptoms by multiple anti-allergic mechanisms mainly IL-1ra and IL-10. Such topical AECM therapy may represent a novel and feasible strategy for treating AC.
Topics: Adipogenesis; Amnion; Animals; B-Lymphocytes; Capillary Permeability; Cells, Cultured; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Culture Media, Conditioned; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Susceptibility; Epithelial Cells; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-1alpha; Mice; Osteogenesis; Pregnancy
PubMed: 34880869
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.774601 -
Allergology International : Official... Jul 2020The definition, classification, pathogenesis, test methods, clinical findings, criteria for diagnosis, and therapies of allergic conjunctival disease are summarized...
The definition, classification, pathogenesis, test methods, clinical findings, criteria for diagnosis, and therapies of allergic conjunctival disease are summarized based on the Guidelines for Clinical Management of Allergic Conjunctival Disease 2019. Allergic conjunctival disease is defined as "a conjunctival inflammatory disease associated with a Type I allergy accompanied by some subjective or objective symptoms." Allergic conjunctival disease is classified into allergic conjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, and giant papillary conjunctivitis. Representative subjective symptoms include ocular itching, hyperemia, and lacrimation, whereas objective symptoms include conjunctival hyperemia, swelling, folliculosis, and papillae. Patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis, which is characterized by conjunctival proliferative changes called giant papilla accompanied by varying extents of corneal lesion, such as corneal erosion and shield ulcer, complain of foreign body sensation, ocular pain, and photophobia. In the diagnosis of allergic conjunctival diseases, it is required that type I allergic diathesis is present, along with subjective and objective symptoms accompanying allergic inflammation. The diagnosis is ensured by proving a type I allergic reaction in the conjunctiva. Given that the first-line drug for the treatment of allergic conjunctival disease is an antiallergic eye drop, a steroid eye drop will be selected in accordance with the severity. In the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, an immunosuppressive eye drop will be concomitantly used with the abovementioned drugs.
Topics: Conjunctival Diseases; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Disease Management; Disease Susceptibility; Humans
PubMed: 33211650
DOI: 10.1016/j.alit.2020.03.005 -
Pediatrics Jun 2013Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) is approved in the United States for the treatment of pediatric asthma and rhinitis; sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) does not have... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) is approved in the United States for the treatment of pediatric asthma and rhinitis; sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) does not have regulatory approval but is used in clinical practice. The objective of this study was to systematically review the evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of SCIT and SLIT for the treatment of pediatric asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.
METHODS
Two independent reviewers selected articles for inclusion, extracted data, and graded the strength of evidence for each clinical outcome. All studies were randomized controlled trials of children with allergic asthma or rhinoconjunctivitis treated with SCIT or an aqueous formulation of SLIT. Data sources were Medline, Embase, LILACS, CENTRAL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials through May 2012.
RESULTS
In 13 trials, 920 children received SCIT or usual care; in 18 studies, 1583 children received SLIT or usual care. Three studies compared SCIT with SLIT head-to-head in 135 children. The strength of evidence is moderate that SCIT improves asthma and rhinitis symptoms and low that SCIT improves conjunctivitis symptoms and asthma medication scores. Strength of evidence is high that SLIT improves asthma symptoms and moderate that SLIT improves rhinitis and conjunctivitis symptoms and decreases medication usage. The evidence is low to support SCIT over SLIT for improving asthma or rhinitis symptoms or medication usage. Local reactions were frequent with SCIT and SLIT. There was 1 report of anaphylaxis with SCIT.
CONCLUSIONS
Evidence supports the efficacy of both SCIT and SLIT for the treatment of asthma and rhinitis in children.
Topics: Administration, Sublingual; Adolescent; Asthma; Child; Child, Preschool; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Desensitization, Immunologic; Humans; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 23650298
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-0343 -
Cells Nov 2021We investigated the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of the oral administration of transgenic rice seeds expressing a hypoallergenic Bet v 1 derivative of allergic...
Prophylactic and Therapeutic Effects of Oral Immunotherapy on Birch Pollen-Induced Allergic Conjunctivitis in Mice with a Rice-Based Edible Vaccine Expressing a Hypoallergenic Birch Pollen Allergen.
We investigated the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of the oral administration of transgenic rice seeds expressing a hypoallergenic Bet v 1 derivative of allergic birch pollen conjunctivitis in mice. Transgenic rice seed depositing a chimeric molecule called TPC7 (tree pollen chimera 7) created by DNA shuffling of Bet v 1 family sequences from birch, alder and hazel in protein bodies of endosperm was generated. BALB/c mice were sensitized to birch pollen in alum and challenged with pollen in eyedrops. They were fed TPC7 transgenic or non-transgenic (control) rice seeds for 14 d before sensitization (prophylactic protocol) or 17 d after sensitization (therapeutic protocol). The clinical score and number of conjunctival eosinophils were significantly lower in TPC7-fed mice than in the control mice based on both the prophylactic and therapeutic protocols. Serum concentration of allergen-specific IgE did not differ between TPC7-fed and control groups in either protocol. Prophylactic administration of TPC7 downregulated the production of IL-4 and IFN-γ, whereas therapeutic administration of TPC7 upregulated the production of IFN-γ by allergen-stimulated splenocytes. Prophylactic or therapeutic oral administration of transgenic rice expressing TPC7 suppressed birch pollen-induced allergic conjunctivitis in mice. Feeding transgenic rice is a potentially effective approach as an allergen-specific immunotherapy for allergic conjunctivitis.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Allergens; Animals; Betula; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Desensitization, Immunologic; Immunoglobulin E; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-4; Lymph Nodes; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Oryza; Plants, Genetically Modified; Pollen; Spleen; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Vaccines, Edible
PubMed: 34943868
DOI: 10.3390/cells10123361 -
Journal of Pharmacological and... 2022Allergic conjunctivitis is one of the most common immune diseases in the field of ophthalmology. The number of patients suffering from allergic conjunctivitis has been...
Allergic conjunctivitis is one of the most common immune diseases in the field of ophthalmology. The number of patients suffering from allergic conjunctivitis has been increasing, and there is still a strong need for development of therapeutic agents for this disease. In drug development, the utmost important point to improve the success probability is to accurately single out good compounds in the early stage of drug development. Therefore, drug efficacy evaluations in the nonclinical stage should be conducted with high reliability and accuracy. However, there are no literatures investigating the preparation and evaluation methods of animal models of conjunctivitis in details nor the standardized criteria. In this study, we verified the reproducibility of an animal model in the previous report and made improvements in test methods focusing on a guinea pig model of histamine-induced allergic conjunctivitis. Furthermore, the drug efficacy evaluation was conducted using a commercially available antihistamine drug, levocabastine hydrochloride, to judge the suitability of the improved model. As a result, the dose level of histamine needed to be increased to use the existing model for drug efficacy evaluation, but allergic-like symptoms were induced very easily and stably in this model. For observations of symptoms of conjunctivitis, we eliminated ambiguity of evaluation by adopting the Draize scale and ensured a higher objectivity on the evaluation method. The drug efficacy evaluation of levocabastine hydrochloride in the prepared model revealed that drug efficacy of the antihistamine drug was captured according to the standardized test method and highly-reproducible results were obtained.
Topics: Animals; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Guinea Pigs; Histamine; Histamine Antagonists; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Humans; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 34798284
DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2021.107133 -
Oleanolic acid controls allergic and inflammatory responses in experimental allergic conjunctivitis.PloS One 2014Pollen is the most common aeroallergen to cause seasonal conjunctivitis. The result of allergen exposure is a strong Th2-mediated response along with conjunctival mast...
Pollen is the most common aeroallergen to cause seasonal conjunctivitis. The result of allergen exposure is a strong Th2-mediated response along with conjunctival mast cell degranulation and eosinophilic infiltration. Oleanolic acid (OA) is natural a triterpene that displays strong anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties being an active anti-allergic molecule on hypersensitivity reaction models. However, its effect on inflammatory ocular disorders including conjunctivitis, has not yet been addressed. Hence, using a Ragweed pollen (RWP)-specific allergic conjunctivitis (EAC) mouse model we study here whether OA could modify responses associated to allergic processes. We found that OA treatment restricted mast cell degranulation and infiltration of eosinophils in conjunctival tissue and decreased allergen-specific Igs levels in EAC mice. Th2-type cytokines, secreted phospholipase A2 type-IIA (sPLA2-IIA), and chemokines levels were also significantly diminished in the conjunctiva and serum of OA-treated EAC mice. Moreover, OA treatment also suppressed RWP-specific T-cell proliferation. In vitro studies, on relevant cells of the allergic process, revealed that OA reduced the proliferative and migratory response, as well as the synthesis of proinflammatory mediators on EoL-1 eosinophils and RBL-2H3 mast cells exposed to allergic and/or crucial inflammatory stimuli such as RWP, sPLA2-IIA or eotaxin. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the beneficial activity of OA in ocular allergic processes and may provide a new intervention strategy and potential therapy for allergic diseases.
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Anti-Allergic Agents; Cell Proliferation; Conjunctiva; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Cytokines; Eosinophils; Female; Flow Cytometry; Immunization; Immunoglobulin E; Inflammation; Mast Cells; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Models, Animal; Oleanolic Acid; Pollen
PubMed: 24699261
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091282 -
Asian Pacific Journal of Allergy and... Dec 2022Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is the most common ocular condition in allergic children. In tropical countries, the study about the clinical features and outcome of...
BACKGROUND
Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is the most common ocular condition in allergic children. In tropical countries, the study about the clinical features and outcome of treatment is very limited.
OBJECTIVE
To review clinical characteristics and outcomes of treatment in children with ocular allergy.
METHODS
Children with history of AC were classified to seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC), perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC), vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC). The clinical history and outcome of treatment were recorded.
RESULTS
One hundred and sixty-four children were recruited. PAC was the most common type (61.6%), followed by SAC (21.3%), VKC (12.2%), and AKC (4.9%). Male preponderance was found in all groups. Mean age of onset was 6.8 ± 2.8 years. Allergic rhinitis was the most common co-morbidity (97.6%). The common sensitized allergen is house-dust mites (86.1%). Standard treatments in all groups were natural tear and topical olopatadine. Add-on medications were usually needed in severe types of AC (VKC, AKC). History of topical corticosteroid use was 68.8% and 12.5% in VKC and AKC, respectively. All of them can discontinue topical corticosteroid when topical tacrolimus was applied. The overall remission was found 35% in VKC group and 63% in AKC group. The median duration of treatment was 20.5 months in VKC group and 11 months in AKC group.
CONCLUSIONS
most Thai children with AC sensitized to house-dust mites. In severe forms of AC, most patients needed addon medication. The use of topical calcineurin inhibitor as an add-on therapy can decrease the use of topical corticosteroid.
Topics: Humans; Male; Child; Child, Preschool; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Southeast Asian People; Allergens; Tacrolimus; Chronic Disease; Dust
PubMed: 32061246
DOI: 10.12932/AP-160519-0564 -
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology Jan 2017Atopic dermatitis comorbidities extend well beyond the march to allergic conditions (food allergy, asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and eosinophilic... (Review)
Review
Atopic dermatitis comorbidities extend well beyond the march to allergic conditions (food allergy, asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and eosinophilic esophagitis), suggesting both cutaneous and systemic immune activation. In reviewing atopic dermatitis comorbidities, Councilors of the International Eczema Council found a strong pattern of immune activation in peripheral blood and the propensity to both skin and systemic infections. Associations with cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric, and malignant diseases were increasingly reported, but confirmation of their link with atopic dermatitis requires longitudinal studies. Given the possibility of atopic dermatitis-related systemic immune activation, future investigations of new interventions should concurrently examine the impact on these comorbidities.
Topics: Asthma; Bacterial Infections; Comorbidity; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Dermatitis, Atopic; Eosinophilic Esophagitis; Female; Food Hypersensitivity; Humans; Incidence; Male; Prognosis; Rhinitis, Allergic
PubMed: 27771048
DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2016.08.022 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2022To explore the risk factors for allergic conjunctivitis (AC) in Chinese children. We recruited 176 children who suffered from AC and a control group comprising 131...
To explore the risk factors for allergic conjunctivitis (AC) in Chinese children. We recruited 176 children who suffered from AC and a control group comprising 131 normal subjects in southern China. Each participant completed a questionnaire and underwent multiple eye examinations and a skin prick test (SPT). The data of the questionnaire, the scores of the symptoms/signs and the results of the SPT were analysed. The rate of parental allergic history in the case group was much higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the case group was more likely to have other concomitant diseases (P < 0.01). The scores of ocular symptoms/signs had a significant correlation with the clinical duration of AC in the case group (P < 0.01). Children with other concomitant diseases or a parental allergic history were more likely to have AC.
Topics: Child; Humans; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Skin Tests; Eye; Surveys and Questionnaires; Asian People; China
PubMed: 36470950
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25591-7